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sent to Burlington Magazine, for Dec. 1960 issue
Nov. 11, 1960

DELACROIX, Eugene (1798-1863)

[[underlined]] "JACOB WRESTLING WITH THE ANGEL" [[/underlined]]

Study for the fresco in the Church of St. Sulpice, Paris
(in the Chapelle des Saints Anges)
Pencil: 22 x 14-1/2"   1853-57

The powerful figures of Jacob and the Angel are locked in combat in a clearing at left foreground in a landscape dominated by huge gnarled oaks. The great branches of the trees are convulsively entwined like the bodies of the combattants, whose straining muscles, contorted limbs and rippling draperies suggest the fury of the battle. In contrast to this violent scene, the small quiet figures of Jacob's followers move through a stream at right; the stream reappears again in the background with indications of mountains. Dark soft pencil is used forcefully, most often in short parallel strokes, straight or slightly hooked, which contribute to the vigorous, dynamic power of the drawing.

[[underlined]] Note: Genesis 32 [[/underlined]] is Delacroix's source: As Jacob journeyed with his family to make peace with his brother Esau, he was challenged by a stranger. The two wrestled through the night, Jacob prevailing, until the Angel pressed upon a nerve in his thigh rendering him helpless (the moment depicted by Delacroix). But the Angel blessed Jacob and named him "Israel" for his power with God and with men.

[[underlined]] Collections: [[/underlined]] Delacroix Sale, Paris, Hotel Drouot, Feb. 17-29, 1864, included in lot 297. Bears seal of this sale in lower left. Sold to: 
Alfred Robaut
P.A. Cheramy (Sale, Paris, Gal. Petit, May 5-7 1908, no. 351).
A. Beurdeley (Sale, Paris, Gal. Petit, Nov. 30-Dec.2, 1920, no.118)
Duc de Trevise (Sale, Paris, Gal. Charpentier, May 19, 1938, no.3 repr. 

[[underlined]] Exhibitions [[/underlined]]: Paris, Ecole des Beaux-Arts, "Exposition Eugene Delacroix" March 6-April 15, 1885, no. 375.
St. Petersburg, "Exposition centennale de L'art francaise" 1912, no. 213.
Paris, Louvre, "Exposition Delacroix" 1930. no. 499a.
San Francisco Museum of Art, "French Romantic Artists', April 19-May 14, 1939, no. 50 reprod.

[[underlined]] Bibliography [[/underlined]]: Robaut, A . "Eugene Delacroix, Fac-Simile de dessins" lere serie, 1864, no. 24, facsimile reprod.
Robaut, A. "L'Oeuvre complet de Eugene Delacroix" 1885, no. 1328.
Meier-Graefe, J. "Eugene Delacroix" Munich 1922, pl. 170
Badt, Kurt, "Eugene Delacroix, Drawings" 1946, p.71.

^[[GS]] 

Transcription Notes:
https://smarthistory.org/delacroix-sulpice/